Show Notes
Unite: Bringing Together Podcasters & Ideas in the Field
The Stories Changing Food: What story changed the way you think about food, farming, or the environment? Maybe it was from listening to one of our brilliant guests—all communicators creating vital discussions around our current food and farming system. Plus, we have a very special guest for the outro, so please listen to the end!
Host, producer: Richard Tufton Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie Editor: Meg Chatham Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) Instagram: @neidpath_farms
Six Inches of Soil
Website: sixinchesofsoil.org Book: sixinchesofsoil.org/book Instagram: @sixinchesofsoil LinkedIn: Six Inches of Soil
Featured Guests
Abby Rose | Farmerama
Abby is a soil health advocate, part-time farmer, and co-founder of Vidacycle, creators of Sectormentor and Soilmentor—practical tools that help vineyards and farms track and build soil health (including the Regen Platform developed with Nicole Masters). She is also the co-creator of Farmerama Radio, an award-winning podcast sharing the voices behind regenerative farming. Splitting her time between her family farm in Chile and international farm visits, Abby was named one of the ‘50 Next’ young people shaping the future of gastronomy by The World’s 50 Best.
Ben Eagle | Meet the Farmers
Based in the east of England, Ben is a writer, podcaster, and rural communications specialist. As the founder of RuralPod Media, his passion is telling rural stories and building an extensive network of agricultural contacts across the UK. His podcast portfolio includes the Meet the Farmers Podcast and Rural Business Focus.
Clay Conry | Working Cow Podcast
A Western South Dakota native raised on a cow-calf operation, Clay recently relocated to West Central South Dakota. Alongside managing a small ranch with his family, Clay pastors Prairie Home Church—an independent congregation that has met on the prairies for 110 years. Over the last three years, Clay has used his platform to learn and implement paradigm-challenging agricultural practices.
Ffinlo Costain | Farmgate
Ffinlo is the Editor-in-Chief of 8point9.com and has worked in farming, land, and food policy for over 20 years. As Chief Executive of Farmwel (2016-2022), he provided evidence to UK parliamentary committees and advised ministers on agricultural climate gases. He founded the Food & Global Security Network, published Soil Health: A security threat profile ahead of COP26, and delivered the highly popular TEDx Talk, "We can't solve the climate crisis without cows."
Sheila Dillon | The Food Programme (Special Guest)
A food journalist for over four decades, Sheila moved from editing Food Monitor magazine in New York to BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, where she now serves as presenter. Throughout her career, she has produced groundbreaking, early coverage on BSE (mad cow disease), the rise of GM foods, the organic movement, and the globalization of the food supply via the WTO—shining a light on these critical subjects long before they entered the mainstream media.
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More from Six Inches of Soil - The Podcast
EPISODE 20 Un-Herd of Benefits: Regenerative grazing restores soil health Host/Producer: Richard Tufton Co-host/Producer: Claire Mackenzie Editor: Meg Chatham Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) | Instagram: @neidpath_farms Six Inches of Soil Links YouTube: Podcast episodes & clips Website: sixinchesofsoil.org Book: sixinchesofsoil.org/book Instagram: @sixinchesofsoil LinkedIn: Six Inches of Soil This episode explores the vital role of soil health, grasslands, and regenerative agriculture across the globe. Featuring experts from Kenya, the US, New Zealand, and the UK, it highlights innovative practices that enhance resilience, profitability, and ecological balance. Guests Silas Hedley Lawrence Currently based in the UK, Silas is positioned to work with farms and organisations globally. He dreams big, with a mission to achieve landscape & community regeneration on 5 million hectares over his lifetime. Over the last fifteen years, he has strategically integrated practical farming experience with a broad network across the supply chain, and extensive training in agroecological systems. His farming journey began on the family dairy farm and kiwi fruit orchards in New Zealand. In the UK, he has managed farms in both commercial and direct selling models and was farm manager at FAI Farms during their seminal “AMP Grazing” research project. He now farms in the Cotswolds with his business partner at “Cotswold Cattle Company”, focusing on collaborating with landowners to increase natural capital through integrating cattle into arable systems. Website: grassfedfarmer.com Instagram: @grassfed_farmer LinkedIn: Silas Hedley Lawrence Dr. Jason Rowntree The faculty coordinator for two research facilities at Michigan State University, The Lake City Research and Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Centers. His current research and outreach focus on applying holistic management principles to agricultural settings. Jason and his wife Cara have three children. They have a small 10-acre farm that allows for his family to raise grass-finished beef, pastured poultry, and eggs for their friends and church family. LinkedIn: Jason Rowntree Grassfed Exchange: Jason Rowntree Profile Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki The Global Research Lead for Soil and Land Health at Landscape Alliance, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her work focuses on landscape restoration, identifying drivers of land degradation, and quantifying how land management practices influence soil health and ecosystem resilience. LinkedIn: Leigh Winowiecki Landscape Alliance: Leigh Ann Winowiecki Profile Instagram: @lawinowiecki COP27 Presentation: YouTube Link Matt and Lynley Wyeth (Spring Valley Farm) Matt and Lynley Wyeth established Spring Valley Enterprises Ltd in 2002. From their deep connection to the beautiful Wairarapa region of New Zealand, they’ve built a privately owned, highly successful, and innovative sheep and beef farming operation. Each day on Spring Valley farm reminds them of the profound responsibility they carry to nurture this land and the animals that call it home. Matt's LinkedIn: Matt Wyeth Business LinkedIn: Silver Fern Farms Ltd Business Website: Spring Valley & Silver Fern Farms Facebook: Silver Fern Farms Instagram: @silverfernfarms Key Topics Soil as the foundation of ecosystems and food security The importance of grasslands and their role in carbon storage Innovative soil monitoring and land degradation surveillance Global perspectives on regenerative farming practices The link between soil health, resilience, and profitability Youth engagement and education in sustainable agriculture Policy and community actions for soil and land restoration The role of consumer choices in promoting sustainable farming Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Host & Producer: Richard Tufton
What can a nomadic culture teach us about soil, livestock, food, community, and living within nature's limits? In this special episode of Six Inches of Soil, host Richard Tufton travels to Mongolia to meet Amraa and Oggy—two people with deep connections to the country's nomadic traditions. Mongolian nomadic life is built around movement, observation, and adaptation, with families moving according to the seasonal availability of grass and water. Together with superstar producer Claire Mackenzie, they explore how nomadic practices offer a fresh perspective on land stewardship, food systems, and community resilience. In This Episode
A Regenerative future starts with HOPE not fear.
Unwinding curious minds: Fourth graders dig into soil facts Richard heads to the classroom for this special episode, joined by a lively group of students, some vocal chicks, a regenerative farmer, and a soil scientist! Enjoy the background chirps and the deeply inquisitive minds of the fourth-grade class at The International School of Texas, led by their teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Passi, as they dlve into the world of soil and food. As part of the faculty at IST, Jennifer contributes to a curriculum rooted in global citizenship and core values like integrity and intellect. Her work in the STEM lab helps students develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate and protect the planet's future.